Hastings thread

[Tim Harding]

I don't understand the end of that game, doesn't Ke4 just win?

Indeed. Strange if Keith played 53...Kxg3 and a lucky escape for him if that is what happened (and a missed chance for Koby). I can only think Koby was maybe in time trouble?

I wonder if white saw 54 Ke4 Ne1 55 h6 Nf3 and wasn't sure how to win from there (albeit 56 Nf5+ followed by Kf4 seems to do the trick).The other possibility is an error in transmission.

I'm only looking at this now and in the version of the game currently available at

http://www.hastingschess.com/live-games-201617/

the supposed winning move 54 Ke4 is not legal because the WK is on d2. So presumably the score you were looking at earlier was incorrect?

[Alex McFarlane]

He was short of time ... might explain it.

Sean is adding more.

[shaunpress]

To avoid the curse of illegal Ke4/d4/d5/e5 moves we (the arbiters) are trying to be proactive and check the last move played as well as placing the kings the right way. Unfortunately we missed a couple ...

[LawrenceCooper]

Indeed. Strange if Keith played 53...Kxg3 and a lucky escape for him if that is what happened (and a missed chance for Koby). I can only think Koby was maybe in time trouble?

I wonder if white saw 54 Ke4 Ne1 55 h6 Nf3 and wasn't sure how to win from there (albeit 56 Nf5+ followed by Kf4 seems to do the trick).The other possibility is an error in transmission.

I'm only looking at this now and in the version of the game currently available at

http://www.hastingschess.com/live-games-201617/

the supposed winning move 54 Ke4 is not legal because the WK is on d2. So presumably the score you were looking at earlier was incorrect?

The king was on e3 when checked on c2 so Ke4 is perfectly legal albeit it would be move 55, not 54.

[Roger de Coverly]

The king was on e3 when checked on c2 so Ke4 is perfectly legal albeit it would be move 55, not 54.

The stockfish at chessbomb reckons 55. Ke4 is winning. Even after 55. Kd2, it thinks White is a lot better. Perhaps White trusted Keith and thought he only had a draw, which according to the stockfish was the case not so many moves earlier.

For future readers here's the chessbomb version of the game.

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Qc2 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Bf4 Bf5 9. Qc1 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Rc8 13. c5 Re8 14. Nc3 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Bg2 Qa5 17. Be3 Bf8 18. Bg5 Nfd7 19. e4 d4 20. Rxd4 Bxc5 21. Rd1 f6 22. Be3 Rcd8 23. b3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qc5 25. Qxc5 Nxc5 26. f4 Ned3 27. Rd2 Rd7 28. Rad1 Red8 29. Bf1 g5 30. Bxd3 Rxd3 31. Rxd3 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Nxd3 33. fxg5 fxg5 34. Kf1 Kf7 35. Ke2 Ne5 36. Ke3 Ke6 37. Ne2 Kd6 38. Nd4 a5 39. Kd2 Nd7 40. Nf3 h6 41. Nd4 h5 42. Ke3 Ne5 43. Kd2 b5 44. Nf5+ Kc5 45. Ng7 Kd4 46. Nxh5 Kxe4 47. Ng7 Kd4 48. Nh5 Ke4 49. Ng7 Nf3+ 50. Kc2 Nd4+ 51. Kd2 Kf3 52. h4 g4 53. h5 Kxg3 54. Ke3 Nc2+ 55. Kd2

[Alex Holowczak]

Is this pairing system likely to help with norms?

According to my notes, the object of the Baku system wasn't that per se, but it was to minimise the rating differences between the opponents; i.e. prevent large mismatches in the earlier rounds. Intuitively, a by-product of that is that norm opportunities would increase. In fact, we were informed that the system is better in this respect for all 9-round tournaments or longer.

[Michael Flatt]

Live commentary is by the ever enthusiastic GM Chris Ward. Very instructive to especially the younger players as might be expected from his coaching of the Kent Juniors. It's hard work for a single presenter but the interaction with the live audience is good.

Players from the tournament drop in to explain the thoughts they had during the game and yesterday (Friday) Matthew Sadler also visited and contributed to the discussion and analysis.

Every day Chris will feature the game by the 11 year old Indian IM, R Praggnanandhaa, whom he refers to as 'RP'.

There is something for everyone.

The broadcast is via Livestream which requires registration (confirmation by email): http://www.hastingschess.com/live-commentary-4/

[Barry Sandercock]

Round 4. Quick win by Keith Arkell.

[Roger de Coverly]

Round 4. Quick win by Keith Arkell.

Here's the whole game

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 Qb6 5. b3 Bf5 6. e3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Ngf6 9. Nbd2 e6 10. O-O Bd6 11. c4 c5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nc4 Qa6 14. Nxd6+ Qxd6 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Qd4 1-0

I was tempted to wonder what the opening is about, but by transposition it's a line known from the 1980s and 1990s. I would usually have played 5 . Qc1 as in 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. Nf3 Qb6 5. Qc1 to follow numerous Julian Hodgson games. 5. b3 is also played and was chosen by Anand against Karpov in 1998.

[Michael Flatt]

Chris's live commentary keeps breaking up. I guess that it must be down to a poor internet connection at the venue.

[David Clayton]

Chris's live commentary keeps breaking up. I guess that it must be down to a poor internet connection at the venue.

Correct Michael.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Round 4. Quick win by Keith Arkell.

Here's the whole game

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 Qb6 5. b3 Bf5 6. e3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Ngf6 9. Nbd2 e6 10. O-O Bd6 11. c4 c5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nc4 Qa6 14. Nxd6+ Qxd6 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Qd4 1-0

I was tempted to wonder what the opening is about, but by transposition it's a line known from the 1980s and 1990s. I would usually have played 5 . Qc1 as in 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. Nf3 Qb6 5. Qc1 to follow numerous Julian Hodgson games. 5. b3 is also played and was chosen by Anand against Karpov in 1998.

Am surprised Black didn't try 16...Qf8. It is still winning for White, but that at least avoids immediate material loss. Though admittedly, looking at the resulting position, it is not one you would want to play on with even in an evening league match, let alone on a live board at Hastings against a grandmaster!

[Matt Mackenzie]

Yes, that is a classic "sod this, I've had enough already" resignation

[John Upham]

Chris's live commentary keeps breaking up. I guess that it must be down to a poor internet connection at the venue.

The sea air tends to corrode the copper pairs. Fibre planned for 2035.

[Nick Grey]

Spice v Spanton looks like playing with an enormous new year hangover.